Fortunately, it’s Spring Break, so I will turn on CBS and watch a bunch of games featuring teams I don’t give a rat’s ass about.
The REAL Sweet Sixteen started today, and my old high school won their first-round game (first state tournament game I’ve ever been to!) so they play Friday at noon, then Kentucky and Murray State play that night. I’m sort of pulling for Murray State to finish the almost-upset they had going against North Carolina years ago.
I’m supposed to have class tomorrow until 12:30 and then again from 4:00-6:00. I’m ducking out and heading to the campus pub at 12:00 for lunch and I doubt I’m going to the 4:00 class. It only comes once a year so I’ve got to make the best of it.
I’m really excited for the first two tips of the day. Wichita St. vs. Seton Hall and UW-M vs. Oklahoma. I want to watch this Wichita State team and after last year, UW-M will always a place in my bracket for knocking off Alabama and Boston College. Just like I said they would.
CBS has somehow determined my we, in Chicago, would prefer to watch Wichita State vs. Seton Hall instead of UW-Milwaukee vs. Oklahoma. Go figure.
So far my impression is that Seton Hall has no business being in this tournament. Wichita State has all the parts they need and could threaten Tennessee in the next round. Not enough size to beat the top half of the bracket (or UNC). Their 3-point shooting makes them a potential cinderella against anyone though.
UW-Milwaukee vs. Oklahoma is a barnburner, too. Oklahoma was down 10 in the first half, and is trailing by 2 about 3 minutes into the second.
Better watch this guy – I think he’s just looking for something interesting to write about. I’m not sure where he got the Memphis ‘big players’ at 6’8" 231. In addition, he left out some important info - I suppose because it tends not to build his case.
Center is where bulk makes the biggest difference. I know that Memphis’ centers are 6’9" 265lbs (Joey Dorsey - their starter) and 6’11" 285 (Kareem Cooper - second center). But just in case - here are all of Memphis’ centers and forwards -
Waki Williams 6’9 225 lbs
Robert Dozier 6’9 205 lbs
Shawne Williams 6’9 225lbs
Rodney Carney (if you count him as a big man) 6’7 205 lbs
Joey Dorsey 6’9 265 lbs
Kareem Cooper 6’11 285 lbs
Here are the centers and forwards for Oral Roberts -
Yemi Ogunoye 6’8
Caleb Green- 6’8
Andrew Meloy- 6’5
Sylvester Spicer- 6’6
Larry Owens- 6’7
Michael Micalec- 6’11
In addition, Shanoff failed to mention that Memphis is 10th in the NCAA in scoring, 4th in scoring margin, 3rd in FG% defense, 8th in rebound margin, 5th in blocked shots, and 11th in steals. Memphis strength of schedule (SOS) was in the mid-30s and their out of conference SOS was #3.
Just in case you were considering a bet on this game 
Wow, we’re not even 2 hours into the tournament yet and already Oklahoma is screwing me royally.
What the hell is with that screaming whenever BC is shooting freethrows? I mean, I know what it’s about, but I swear, that chick’s screech gets shriller and louder as the game goes on!
Security!!!
Per! Fect!..Brack! Et!
clap clap clap…clapclapclap
Per! Fect!..Brack! Et!
Perfect so far… come on, BC, I ignored my apprehensions about you because I just interviewed your coach- don’t make me look like an idiot!
The Eagles pull away in double-OT and beat Pacific by 12! My bracket is once again safe for democracy.
Shanoff is kind of a tool. He writes interesting enough stuff on a daily basis, but… I certainly wouldn’t put any actual credence into any of it.
The shot that the kid just hit from the corner for Tennessee was RIDICULOUS.
And he ruined my perfect bracket, too.
What a finish though! Length-of-the-court toss by Withrop, hits the backboard, and the guy almost makes a bankshot to tie it back up.
Chris Lofton. Kentucky Mr. Basketball 2004. Should be wearing Kentucky blue, but NO, he’s actually talented.
/so glad we wasted two scholarships on Shaggy and Scooby Woo
Alabama is killing me. How many more mistakes can you make before giving the game away?
Marquette got exactly the shot they wanted, and Novak just plain missed it.
Montana over Nevada, which doesn’t surprise me so much. When the brackets came out, I thought, “Nevada a 5?”, and then looked at the numbers and saw that it seemed right… but it just didn’t feel especially right. The margin of victory is a little surprising, though - the game wasn’t even close.
I talked myself back into picking Montana at about 11:45 last night. I’d picked it originally, then convinced myself Nevada would have the home-court advantage playing in Salt Lake, then last night just thought that Montana felt right.
I’m still not sure how Alabama managed to win that game. I’ve watched them in the SEC all season, and they haven’t been THAT good.
I’m still perfect through seven games in the SDMB pool, and 6/7 in the office pool. (I’m wondering why I ‘mixed things up’ in the pool that’s for money and did what I thought was right in the Dope pool. Apparently I value your respect more than my co-workers’ money.)
I’ll ignore that dig at the team you didn’t mention. Thought you’d be interested to know that UCLA won the way a #2 seed should, 78-44. Belmont led 18-12 with 6:40 to go in the first half, then UCLA went on a sick 52-12 run to make the score 64-30 by the time there was 6:12 left in the game.
You underestimate my Bruins, winners of their last 8, at your own peril.
There IS a fan of a Pac-10 team around here to defend 'em! 
In the interest of full disclosure, the only UCLA game I’ve seen more than pieces of this year was the WVU game, and that was a long time ago. I tend to be of the opinion that UCLA is the best team on the West Coast this year… and that West Coast basketball really sucks this year.
That said, it wouldn’t really shock me to see UCLA come out of that bracket, because I think ANYONE could come out of that bracket, and I do give a team that picked up regular season and tournament conference championships some credit.
How about the late games so far? LSU was getting pushed for a while but they’ve opened it up to double digits… while Gonzaga and GW are both losing in their first games in months with a degree of difficulty. Mensah-Bonsu has looked pretty good, though.
With the Gonzaga win, I’m 10 for 11 so far. I expect Illinois will make it 11-12. However, 3 of the 4 late games tonight I’ve picked the underdog, so I’m not sure how long I can keep up this pace.